Jacksonville, AL – Huff, Stewart revive memories of Jenkins, Pope while leading Jacksonville State to fourth consecutive victory ahead of CUSA showdown with Liberty.
Instant reaction: Jax State 42, MTSU 20
Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart. Tre Stewart and Tyler Huff.
They make one quarterback-running back, zone-read battery, and they’re giving Jax State all the offense it needs this season.
The pair accounted for 39 of Jax State’s 55 carries and 361 of the Gamecocks’ 438 rushing yards against Middle Tennessee State on Wednesday, and Jax Stare made it four wins in a row, 42-20, in a “Blackout” game at AmFirst Stadium.
The unveiling of Jax State’s black uniforms combo with the new “AKC” logo on red helmets came two weeks after the Gamecocks whited out New Mexico State 54-13.
Blackout, Whiteout, or Redout, the numbers on the jerseys matter more than the color. If you’ve followed Jax State football lately, you know to watch Nos. 6 and 28.
Huff and Stewart amassed the most combined yards between two Jax State rushers since Eli Jenkins and Troymaine Pope combined for 445 against Charleston Southern in the 2015 FCS quarterfinals.
Pope rushed for 250 that day, Jenkins 195. Stewart became Jax State’s first 200-yard rusher since Pope in 2015.
Huff and Stewart have had to become Jax State’s current-day answer to Jenkins and Pope.
Huff has emerged as the decisive winner of the quarterback battle, no matter how many times the word “or” appears on the Gamecocks’ depth chart.
Stewart has to be the guy at running back, partly because injuries have kept Ron Wiggins and Anwar Lewis out of action.
Sprinkle in a little Andrew Paul here and Mike Franklin there, but Stewart is the clear number one at tailback.
Stewart and Huff seem to be nearly all Jax State has, and all Jax State needs.
They came into Wednesday’s game with 975 of Jax State’s 1,356 rushing yards this season. They helped Jax State average 8.0 yards per rush Wednesday.
That’s with Huff’s 2-yard touchdown run and Stewart’s 1-yarder dragging that average down.
Huff had a 49-yard touchdown run. Stewart had a 65-yard run before getting three cracks to get in from the 1 in the third quarter.
That combo has accounted for most of the offense’s contribution in turning Jax State’s season around after an 0-3 start, and what a nice story they make. Stewart was the guy who transferred up from Division II. Huff is the second lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserves who opted to finish his career at Jax State after commanding Furman’s huddle.
So far, it’s been enough for Jax State to play its way to a 3-0 start to Conference USA play. The league’s bottom-half teams have had no answer.
The Gamecocks start play against the other contenders next week, at Liberty. Will Stewart and Huff be enough to help Jax State finish what it’s kick started?
Running backs live one snap away from injury.
If you’ve seen Huff stiff arm and shoulder boom defenders, then you know he never shies from contact. Jax State coach Rich Rodriguez said he inserted Logan Smothers late in Wednesday’s game to spare a banged-up Huff more banging.
Jenkins and Pope made it through a run to the FCS title game in 2015. There’s no reason to think, based on what Huff and Stewart have shown, that they won’t make it as Jax State tries to make it two bowl games in two FBS seasons.
For now, they seem to be all Jax State has, and all Jax State needs.
Game updates
–Kickoff 6:30 p.m.
–Jax State wins toss, defers. MTSU to receive kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Touchback. MSTU starts on its 25
–Nicholas Vattiato throws over the top, hits Holden Willis in stride for a 61-yard TD pass. Zeke Rankin hits the PAT at 12:50. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:10. MTSU 7, JAX STATE 0
Touchback: Jax State starts at its 25
–Tyler Huff keeps, breaks through a huge hole for a 49-yard TD run. Garrison Rippa’s PAT is good at 10:58. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:52. JAX STATE 7, MTSU 7
Touchback: MTSU starts on its 25
–Blue Raiders get points again as Rankin hits 47-yard field goal at 5:38. Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 5:20. MTSU 10, JAX STATE 7
Touchback: Jax State to start on its 25
–Jax State converts fourth and three at MTSU’s 32 with a Huff pass to Cam Vaughn, score on Andrew Paul’s 3-yard TD run. Rippa’s PAT good at 1:02. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:36. JAX STATE 14, MTSU 10.
MTSU starts on its 28
–Jax State D forces a 3-out. Punt pending.
SECOND QUARTER
Jax State starts on its 38 after a 5-yard Flip Rudolph return, conduct call on MTSU
–Gamecocks go 3-out, punts.
MTSU starts on its 12
–Jax State forces punt. It’s like the secondary has read MTSU’s playbook.
Jax State starts at its 11
Gamecocks drive to MTSU’s 5. Bad handoff exchange between Huff and Tre Stewart, and MTSU recovers the fumble at Blue Raiders’ 8. Jax State has a nice drive going, steadily moving the chains on the ground.
MTSU takes over on its 8
–Jax State defense gets the stop at MTSU’s 30, punt pending.
Jax State starts at its 17
–Jax State gets to midfield, stalls, punts
MTSU starts on its 10 at 0:39
HALFTIME
Jax State starts at its 25
–Stewart’s 65-yard run gets Gamecocks to MTSU’s 10. … Huff finds Michael Pettway in the back-left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard TD pass. Rippa PAT good at 13:59. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:01. JAX STATE 21, MTSU 10
Touchback: MTSU starts on its 25
Vattiato hits another deep pass on Jax State, this one for 38 yards to Omari Kelly. Jax State DB Jabari Mack down after the play. … Mack walks off on own power. … Rankin hits a 41-yard field goal at 9:13. Drive: 8 plays, 52 yards, 4:46. JAX STATE 21, MTSU 13.
Pettway fair catch. Jax State to start on its 25
Vaughn adjusts to a deep, back-shoulder throw from Huff, toes the sideline for 37 yards to the MTSU 38. … After a 5-yard penalty, Huff scrambles for 28 yards to the 15. … Huff with the 2-yard keeper for a TD. Rippa PAT good at 5:34: Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:39. JAX STATE 28, MTSU 13
Touchback: MTSU to start on its 25
–Jax State forces a punt.
Jax State starts on its 37
–Stewart with a 1-yard TD run, and Rippa adds the PAT at 0:14. Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 3:26. JAX STATE 35, MTSU 13
FOURTH QUARTER
–Vattiato throws a 4-yard touchdown pass to Butler at 11:33. JAX STATE 35, MTSU 20
–Paul spins and breaks tackles on the way to a 26-yard TD run. Rippa adds the kick at 6:11. JAX STATE 42, MTSU 20
